Time has come to zone up

I WOULD like to draw your attention to the fact that Hounslow railway station is in travel zone five, despite the two corresponding Underground stations - Hounslow East and Hounslow Central - being in zone four.

I WOULD like to draw your attention to the fact that Hounslow railway station is in travel zone five, despite the two corresponding Underground stations - Hounslow East and Hounslow Central - being in zone four.

It takes barely three minutes to travel by South West Trains (SWT) from Isleworth to Hounslow.

I had written to Transport for London (TfL) requesting them to move Hounslow British Railway station from zone five to zone four.

TfL, however, on passed my request to SWT, who defended the zone delegation stating that they have been in place for the past 25 years.

SWT also pointed out that moving Hounslow to zone four would result in a significant price jump between Hounslow and Feltham, which is in zone six.

Since I am not satisfied with the arguments provided by the

SWT, I have written to Passenger Focus (an independent body set up by Parliament to protect the interests of the rail users) and have also launched a campaign requesting others to do so.

Over the past few years we have seen so many things, which had remained in place for decades and centuries, undergo change.

I would say that as the zone delegation has been in place for 25 years its review is all the more necessary.

The second argument put forward by SWT, that it would result in a significant price jump between Hounslow and Feltham, is also untenable. Surely the people of Hounslow are not expected to subsidise the Feltham fares.